Do you have problems with your s’s? Many people do, and they can ruin a recording. Those sharp s’s that we get every now and again are called sibilance, and it’s quite nice if you can reduce that. There are some plugins, a specialist plugin actually called a de-esser, which can help reduce sibilance. However, they don’t tend to be available for Audacity, which is a commonly used software.
If you don’t have access to a de-esser, you can manually reduce sibilance by negatively amplifying it. You would need to go through the piece, looking for where the s is, and then reducing its volume slowly. This process can be laborious and take forever.
Another option is called the pencil method, where you talk with a pencil between your teeth. The theory goes that you’re splitting the s when you’re saying it. However, this method is rather ridiculous, and you wouldn’t be able to do it. A more practical way is to strap the pencil to your microphone so that you are splitting the s before it actually bounces onto the back of the diaphragm and the microphone.
It’s important to note that sometimes sibilance is all in the ear of the beholder. Occasionally, clients might say that you’re very sibilant, but it turns out they’re listening on poor quality speakers that emphasize it. You can’t hear it on your end, and vice versa. So, be careful with your s’s.
In conclusion, reducing sibilance is essential for producing high-quality audio recordings. While the de-esser plugin is the most effective option, manually reducing sibilance and using the pencil method are other options. Remember, sometimes sibilance is subjective, so don’t get too hung up on it. Try these methods and find what works best for you.